Are you running a small business on the side?

Maybe you have a small online store, an affiliate site or a monetized blog? If you are, and it’s not making much money, it could be your mindset that’s slowing you down.

If your business really is mostly for fun, it’s no big deal. If you are looking to do as little actual work as possible, and you are happy with whatever income it generates, then great. Keep up the good work and for goodness sake enjoy it. But, if you ever sat and wondered how to squeeze a little more juice out of it’s time to sit back and take stock.

The problem here is the thought pattern of having a “Hobby Business”. It’s a contradiction in terms.

A Hobby COSTS money - A Business MAKES money

You shouldn’t have a Hobby Business, but you can have a Business Hobby. It’s all about the mindset in how you approach it.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have a small operation on the side, with the intent of earning some pocket money, what I AM saying is; the way you use the time allotted, will determine the outcome. Treating it like just a hobby, will result in it becoming one – which means it will probably cost more than it generates.

Even the Small Should Think Big

Whenever you deal with your business, you should think like a mogul. Make solid decisions, stick to them, and see your plans through. How long it takes will depend on how much time and energy you spend, just avoid sitting down on Saturday morning to “see what’s going on.” You’ll flounder around and probably end up fixing what isn’t broken. Approach each and every decision with the clear intent of being Rockefeller. Even if this is your hobby, its more fun to have a hobby that you are successful at.

Set your goal – Make the plan

First step to any successful business is to have a goal, and a plan on how to get there. If you have a side business that you want to do because you think it’s fun, then by all means, set those goals low. But set measurable goals. It’s the single most important way to ensure that you are in fact doing things right.
Once you have your goals, figure out what to do to get there. Pick your plan of attack, and sketch out what the steps are. This way, you can spend the time you have on your side business the most effectively. Not having a plan of attack figured out is the best way to end up wasting your time.

Make your Schedule

Take your steps, and set a schedule on when you want it done. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time every day or week, then spend a little time - But follow your schedule.
When you are running a business as an extracurricular activity the big risk is that you keep getting off track. Having a plan and schedule keeps you from running around in circles.

Measure and Correct

If something isn’t working right, find out why and make the adjustment. Just don’t adjust every time you sit down and do some work. Try to consider that the less time you put in, the longer it will take to get anywhere. So allow things to level out a little before you decide that it isn’t working.

Success is Fun – Having fun Breeds Success

If you break down your overall goals to smaller steps, little things that can be reached on the way, you’ll find yourself being more motivated to get to the next one.

When you reach a goal, celebrate your success. Even if it’s just coffee and donuts with your friends or significant other, allow yourself to be proud of your successes and reached milestones. Sharing your enthusiasm will make those around you enthusiastic about it, and that will be a great motivator.

Give it a Try

Running a business on the side is rewarding in so many ways. It can generate a little – or a lot – of income. It will however with certainty be a growing and educational experience that few other hobbies can measure up to.

If you run it right, it might even become your new career

Good Luck!

Press Releases are becoming popular marketing tools to many businesses. Not only does it provide a chance to get some great and low cost coverage through news outlets. It also helps accomplish what most businesses are looking for right now - Search Engine Optimization.

The SEO Angle

A well written press release provides you with increased visibility for your Website. Once it gets posted, it will add a series of keywords to your listing on search engines. Do this enough times and you will be much more likely to end up on the front page of Google, Yahoo and the others. Because it is a relevant text, this is a perfect White Hat approach to SEO.

An Image of importance

When you release news, you are projecting an image of importance about your company to the public. News are by definition about something that people should know, the mere fact that it is a press release makes it appear more important than basic Ad Copy. It becomes a matter worth noting. Press releases are powerful because of just this tool. It is information that in itself isn’t trying to sell the reader anything. When you are not trying to sell, the reader will drop their guard and note the information much more readily.

Communicate and Motivate

Press releases are a form of communicating, if you post them on your own website, chances are that customers will read them and know more about your company and what you are accomplishing. By having a steady stream of Press Releases appearing, you are showing that your company is on the move. This creates an image of success that will not be lost on your customers.
You can also use press releases to communicate milestones, new hires etc. When this happens, you are sending a strong message to the employees. Showing employees that they are important and that their accomplishments are noteworthy is a great way to build moral.

Get going
Press Releases are powerful tools, well written and newsworthy releases can give you more bang for your buck than most other forms of marketing activities. You will build awareness, improve your brand and build your business without having to spend a fortune doing it.
There is little or no reason to miss an opportunity like the press release, the cost is low and the rewards potentially very high.